(Revision. 1/16/25)
AS 47.06.030(3) Legislative Findings Related to Children
45 CFR 1356.21 Case Plan Requirements (Title IV-E)
Provide standards and guidelines for conducting Team Decision Making (TDM) meetings. OCS holds TDM meetings in situations when a child is at risk of leaving home or moving to a new placement. Key participants will be invited to the TDM such as parents/caregiver, parent supports, youth, Tribe, resource families, service providers, and agency staff. A TDM meeting is aimed to ensure every voice is heard and that the OCS decision results in the safest, least restrictive/intrusive placement and is in the best interest of the child.
For each child in out-of-home placement, the state is required to involve the child’s parent or guardian in the development of a plan for ensuring that the child receives safe and proper care, in the least restrictive setting available.
The department is required to make active and reasonable efforts to ensure that children in the custody of the state are provided with reasonable safety, adequate care, and adequate treatment while in custody.
A Team Decision Making (TDM) meeting will be held for all children experiencing Present Danger, Impending Danger, or high risk of removal.
TDM meetings will be held before a change in placement for a child already in care. In emergency situations where the TDM is unable to be scheduled before the placement change, the TDM referral will be submitted within 1 business day and the TDM will be held at the earliest time when the parents are available